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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: one_less who wrote (227385)	4/17/2007 12:21:20 PM
From: lazarre	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

% wise, as in perspective, I wonder what that figure would be in Lebanon absenting the recent war? This question is not merely rhetorical and is no excuse for this American culture with it's lopsided wealth vs. poverty disparity that is, largely, the underpin for our horrendous homicide rate. lazarre

To: one_less who wrote (227385)	4/17/2007 1:03:33 PM
From: Elroy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

"What clothes people can legally wear, who can socialize with whom, when and what individuals can eat, what sex you need to be to drive, and most things that are basically ridiculous in modern life, and opposed by all but the most fanatical Muslims population as well as all the non-Muslim population." Most of these things are culturally specific. No they aren't - governments don't need to legislate culture. Do you think it is part of Iranian culture to not dance in public? Saudi women, given the opportunity, would love to drive. They don't "culturally" choose not to - they are legislatively prohibited by old Muslim men forcing their view of Islam on Saudi women. And Muslims not eating in public during Ramadan may be cultural in the same way that Americans stay home with their families on Xmas, but it doesn't need to be legislated. In Saudi or Qatar they are more so and the culture is quite distinct from American culture. Spent last Friday-Sunday in Qatar. Only ~9% of the population is Qatari. The country has an amazingly multi-cultural dynamic since most are from somewhere else. The reason for the Qatari cultural restrictions (some of the international hotels have no booze!) are entirely due to legislating some old Qatari guy's opinion of how to be a good Muslim, and has nothing to do with Qatari "culture". I went to dinner in a dry restaurant with two French, two Americans, two Canadians and a Philipino. We were typical of the clientele. What part of Qatari culture says I shouldn't have a beer in the Movenpick Asian Restaurant? None. The rule exists because some Qatari is forcing his Islamic views on us customers. I say, serve booze, and let the Muslims decide not to drink. There are trade offs and cultures determine for themselves what should be emphasised. No. An old man with the power in the country determined what to emphasize, and in the cases I'm listing he is legislating what he thinks is appropriate Muslim behaviour for the entire society. There was no "societal cultural decision" involved. If Saudi women were given the choice, they would drive. Some old Saudi guy doesn't let them because he thinks it is unIslamic. Are you suggesting we enforce our cultural values on other parts of the world like Qatar for example? I'm just pointing out the Muslims are behind the other major religions when it comes to forcing their religious values on their nation via legislation. As for Qatar being such a wonderful place, like I said, it is only 9% Qatari and 91% other nationalities. The reason for low crime is probably because everyone there has a job, not because the 9% Qatari population are doing anything special.